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21 – 30 of 48Nikhilesh Dholakia and Romeo V. Turcan
Bubbles – technology, stock market, housing, and more – have punctuated modern economic history with some regularity, and seem to be happening with greater frequency in recent…
Abstract
Purpose
Bubbles – technology, stock market, housing, and more – have punctuated modern economic history with some regularity, and seem to be happening with greater frequency in recent periods. Part of the authors' larger work on a meta‐theory of bubbles, this paper aims to compare and contrast bubbles in the fields of entertainment, technology, commodities, housing, and stock markets. It seeks to offer a typology of bubbles.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the literature on bubbles and related socioeconomic phenomena, and experience‐based insights, the paper compares and contrasts bubbles in different fields, to derive inductively a typology of bubbles.
Findings
The paper finds six main types of bubbles, ranging from relatively harmless transient and playful bubbles for some movies at one end, to socially dangerous, contagious, irrational and punctured bubbles at the other end, for stock markets or real estate.
Practical implications
Understanding the dimensions that lead to bubbles can provide policymakers with some early intervention tools – to prevent dangerous bubbles.
Social implications
The insights into dimensions and processes of bubble formation presented provide society with a way to judge actors (businesses, public policymakers) and institutions in terms of their roles in creating or managing bubbles.
Originality/value
The main contribution here is the development of two sets of dimensions – the immediate asset‐linked dimensions and somewhat removed but even more powerful meta‐dimensions – that contribute to the formation or collapse of bubbles.
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Soonkwan Hong and Chang‐Ho Kim
The purpose of this study is to present a theoretical framework to demythologize Asian consumers' cultural and ideological narratives in relation to the newly emerging popular…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to present a theoretical framework to demythologize Asian consumers' cultural and ideological narratives in relation to the newly emerging popular culture developed in Korea, widely known as “Korean wave.” In addition, methodological considerations for the understudied consumption phenomenon are also discussed.
Design/methodology/approach
From the extant literature on popular culture and globalization, a theoretical overview of Korean popular culture (KPC) is provided. Subsequently, a condensed presentation of netnography employing critical discourse analysis (CDA) is provided.
Findings
A netnography fused with CDA suggests a reflexive process in which a range of sociocultural tensions in the globalization process of KPC dynamically hybridize and transform into new cultural tastes in respective cultures.
Research limitations/implications
Cultural branding can be revisited, as the new discourse generated in Asia envisions new entries into the global brandscape. Moreover, this endeavor helps explicate how a globalized trend is replaced with another through a paradoxical discursive process.
Originality/value
As this article discusses popular culture as a product to be consumed just as are other tangible products, it assists researchers in visualizing and theorizing about the globalization process of incorporeal, cultural products. The application of discursively enriched netnography facilitates pertinent analysis and ultimately theory‐building.
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Describes key developments in public policy towards the distributive sector in various socio‐economic contexts. Attempts to explain its evolution in terms of the changes in…
Abstract
Describes key developments in public policy towards the distributive sector in various socio‐economic contexts. Attempts to explain its evolution in terms of the changes in economic structure and political priorities. Examines capitalist, socialist and Third World economies, respectively. Looks deeper at the USA and its distribution and pricing process: Japan is then scrutinised and, as in the USA, ‘free competition’ is the banner upheld; Sweden as a ‘midway’ system (between communism and capitalism) is next to be scrutinised, showing some unique features — such as a heavy consumer bias. Investigates patterns in advanced capitalist economies with public policy towards distribution the main point. Examines the socialist countries next, starting with the USSR as the oldest and economically most power socialist country; East Germany is next for scrutiny with its high level of industrial development key; China, with its unique place as a dominantly agrarian country, is discussed even though little is known of its distribution structure and policy. Further explores developments in Third World countries and these are named: Mexico, Tunisia and India. Concludes that public policy with regard to distribution in various socio‐economic contexts have been examined and further, that distribution is becoming an important concern of public policy in all socio‐economic contexts.
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Bipul Kumar and Nikhilesh Dholakia
To introduce macro-behavioral perspective for understanding pro-sustainability actions from the perspective of various stakeholders.
Abstract
Purpose
To introduce macro-behavioral perspective for understanding pro-sustainability actions from the perspective of various stakeholders.
Methodology/approach
Recent research on sustainability, behavior change, and environmentalism is reviewed to conceptualize a comprehensive macromarketing framework to spawn and diffuse pro-sustainability behaviors.
Findings
Provides a comprehensive macromarketing framework that not only explains the behavioral factors from firm’s perspective but also explains these factors from the perspective of various stakeholders who are part of the entire value chain.
Research limitations/implications
The paper adds to the literature on pro-sustainability behaviors by providing a research framework from macro-marketing point of view.
Practical implications
As practical insight, the paper provides some important guidance in terms of better understanding on firm-specific and individual-specific actions which may help in progressing toward sustainability.
Originality/value
The paper integrates past observations on behavioral aspect of sustainability and develops an important framework to understand pro-sustainability actions.
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A. Fuat Firat, Nikhilesh Dholakia and Alladi Venkatesh
Begins with the premiss that we are living through an epochalchange from the modern to the postmodern era and that marketingorganizations have to reconsider their conceptions of…
Abstract
Begins with the premiss that we are living through an epochal change from the modern to the postmodern era and that marketing organizations have to reconsider their conceptions of the market, the consumer and marketing practice accordingly. Following a brief discussion of the themes of postmodernity, explores some of the key assumptions of modern marketing that are challenged by the transformation to postmodernity. Finally, presents the implications of postmodern culture for marketing, arguing that consumers are not driven by needs but have needs which are driven by external forces, that consumers have become customizers, that marketing organizations′ offerings will increasingly become processes rather than finished products, and that consumers who will increasingly become integrated into the production systems will have to be conceptualized as producers. Concludes by re‐emphasizing that marketing and post‐modernity are greatly intertwined, arguing that consumers are not driven by needs but have needs which are driven by external forces.
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Crystallization calls for the interaction between mind, body and spirit. While the knowledge of the mind is how we are used to see knowledge creation, the body influences the…
Abstract
Purpose
Crystallization calls for the interaction between mind, body and spirit. While the knowledge of the mind is how we are used to see knowledge creation, the body influences the co‐creation and the embodied experience between the researcher and the participant as a human instrument for understanding. Spirit refers to the sensitivity to ethics in preventing the reaffirmation of the stereotypical narratives. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate how body and spirit in addition to mind can provide alternative insights on a research topic.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study focuses on the body and spirit. Self‐reflective empirical narratives from China and India evidence interpretive findings that suggest that crystallization help us to create an emic understanding of those studied and affirms our commitment to them.
Findings
The interpretive findings demonstrate that with help of body and spirit research can move towards indigenous findings of the research site that can be put into action to improve the life of those studied. Two new quality criteria are established to trustworthiness namely indigenousness and action orientation.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to research methodology by demonstrating how in addition to mind generated findings reflections from body and spirit open new avenues to additional findings. It is proposed that knowledge from body and spirit is particularly important in Asian settings because of the Asian culture's holistic view on life and tolerance for multiple truths.
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Mary Ann McGrath, John F. Sherry and Nina Diamond
The aim of this paper is to expand the scant literature related to retail branding ideology and the application of mythotypes to flagship stores within the Chinese setting. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to expand the scant literature related to retail branding ideology and the application of mythotypes to flagship stores within the Chinese setting. The study explores the transplantation of a retail brand ideology in the form of complex home‐country cultural content to a host culture whose local retail narratives differ significantly from those of the brand enterprise.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an ethnographic study that spans the two years of the focal store's existence. With the help of native‐speaking graduate assistants, store visits, interviews with Chinese locals and internet mentions and secondary information were collected. Data include fieldnotes, interview transcripts, photographs, news articles, blog comments and website information.
Findings
The paper details the mythotypic mistuning of marketscape and mindscape that contributed to the failure of this flagship store and build theory concerning the implementation of retail brand ideology and retail theatrics. The paper concludes that successful themed flagship brand stores encapsulate ideology in stories composed of mythotypes and encourages the enactment of that ideology through multiple, interrelated brand experiences. Misalignments of these mythotypes can impede the acceptance of retail brand ideology and the diffusion of the retail theatre concept.
Originality/value
While foreign and domestic flagship brand stores have flourished in China, cultural propriety of these stores includes a host of physical design cues that must mesh with the local culture's sensibilities and the brand's provenance. To translate the retail brand ideology into customer‐centric meaning is challenging. The presence or absence of mythotypes comprising the servicescape profoundly affect their success.
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Drawing inspiration from the 1910 book Finanzkapital by Rudolf Hilferding, this paper seeks to explore the nature of financial capital in the early twenty‐first century from a…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing inspiration from the 1910 book Finanzkapital by Rudolf Hilferding, this paper seeks to explore the nature of financial capital in the early twenty‐first century from a political‐economic and culture theory perspective. It aims to offer suggestions for transcending the crises‐prone contemporary economic systems.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reconceptualises the notions of Finanzkapital in the contemporary context, drawing selective evidence from current and twentieth century economic and business history.
Findings
The nature of contemporaneous Finanzkapital is elaborated by presenting seven “theses” that probe the nature of Finanzkapital prior to, during, and after the Great Recession of 2007‐9.
Originality/value
Through succinct articulation of the major characteristics of contemporary Finanzkapital, the paper suggests some ways to resist and transcend politico‐economic and business systems based on massive but quicksand‐like foundations of financial capital.
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The purpose of this review is to offer a summary of visual and projective research methods that have been applied or may be applied fruitfully in an Asian context. Examples are…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this review is to offer a summary of visual and projective research methods that have been applied or may be applied fruitfully in an Asian context. Examples are provided and a delineation of the strengths and weaknesses of the methods is made.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a review article covering a number of different relevant methods and briefly reviewing studies that have been conducted in Asia using these methods.
Findings
The paper reviews five different uses of qualitative visual and projective methods in Asian consumer and market research: as archival data for analysis; as direct stimuli for data collection; as projective stimuli for data collection; as a means for recording qualitative data; and as a means for presenting qualitative findings.
Research limitations/implications
It is suggested that Asia contains a rich visual culture and that the research techniques reviewed offer compelling means for enhancing data collection, data analysis, and findings presentations from qualitative market and consumer research in Asia.
Originality/value
The paper brings together a diverse array of prior research illustrating the potential of the methods reviewed. In addition to discussing this research a number of references are provided for those wishing to examine these methods in greater detail and apply them to their own research.
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Sonia Manjeshwar, Brenda Sternquist and Linda K. Good
Buying decisions are often viewed as random and therefore not generalizable. Additionally, retail buying is typically conducted by individuals and is impacted by cultural…
Abstract
Purpose
Buying decisions are often viewed as random and therefore not generalizable. Additionally, retail buying is typically conducted by individuals and is impacted by cultural considerations. The aim of this paper is to identify critical incidents from China and India, and use theoretical concepts from buyer‐supplier literature to explain the outcome success or failure.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses the critical incident technique to capture retail buying decisions that resulted in either successful or unsuccessful outcomes. The authors analyze and match each critical incident with theoretical evidence to explain the result.
Findings
A total of ten critical incidents were described by ten senior retail‐buying executives in China and India. Critical incidents were classified under four retailing categories: assortment planning, product promotion, sourcing issues, and supply chain issues, and analyzed under four theoretical themes: opportunism, trust, long‐term orientation and power‐dependence.
Practical implications
Organized retailing is a new phenomenon in China and India. This study bears implications for the training of future retail buyers in both emerging economies, and emphasizes the integration of scientific, modern methods of decision‐making with the cultural values of the local country.
Originality/value
This study is unique because it relies on the voice of the retail buyer to explain real‐world decision making with theoretical evidence from buyer‐supplier literature. Methodologically, this paper is unique as it reports on the first study using critical incident interview techniques to study professional retail‐buying practices.
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